And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2, NASB95)
It is so easy to get used to reading certain verses in the Bible that we sometimes miss the real meaning behind the words we are reading. For instance, this verse in Romans is very familiar to many. I know I have read it many times and even used it in teaching.
The word for transformation in the Greek is the same root of the word metamorphosis in the English. I looked for this root in other passages of the Bible, and to my surprise this word is not used many times. This word is only used four times. And in our Bible in English it has two different translations. One is transformed as in Romans 12, and the other translation is transfigured, as in the accounts of the transfiguration of Jesus.
And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. (Matthew 17:2, NASB95)
Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; (Mark 9:2, NASB95)
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18, NASB95)
It is interesting to think that the idea of us not being conformed to this world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds. According to the Bible, they are both similar to the transfiguration that happened to Jesus.
According to some definitions of metamorphosis it signifies a change into something totally different and new. This can be hard for us because we can’t define what we will be according to what we currently are. Metamorphosis also involve a change of habitat and behavior. We see this in the classic example of the worm and the butterfly.
As I read these scriptures I understand that my thinking needs to change so I can be transformed into something that my mind thinks is impossible.
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. (1 John 3:2, NASB95)